Both dementia and Alzheimer's disease are serious conditions that affect seniors and older adults. While most people consider them the same thing, they have some differences to keep in mind.
This article will discuss these differences and talk more about these cognitive conditions.
What Is Dementia?
Dementia is considered a syndrome that affects cognitive health. It's an umbrella term that several cognitive conditions fall into, such as Alzheimer's disease. Dementia involves a group of symptoms that impact cognitive functions, such as remembering someone's name or thinking clearly. There are different types of dementia, and it's possible to have multiple forms at once, which is called mixed dementia.
Dementia often progresses into a more serious condition that severely affects cognitive ability, making it difficult to make decisions and even live independently. When patients reach this stage, they must be cared for by a caretaker or loved one.
Symptoms
The symptoms of dementia can be mild, making the condition hard to detect. In the early stages of dementia, a person may simply forget someone's name or where they put something. People may also have problems keeping track of time and feel confused in an otherwise familiar environment.
As dementia progresses, memory problems and confusion intensify. These problems often result in issues with personal care, which is typically when a caretaker steps in to help. Dementia damages brain cells and impacts how someone communicates, creating problems with basic thinking, decision-making, and reasoning. Dementia patients sometimes have emotional issues, such as excessive worry, anger, and anxiety.
If someone has dementia, they often have difficulties with at least two of these essential functions:
- Reasoning and judgment
- Concentration and focus
- Memory
- Speech
- Communication
- Visual perception
It's important to note that dementia doesn't involve simple memory lapses like forgetting to bring your sunglasses in the car. Dementia leads to severe cognitive issues that impact everyday life. Someone with the condition may forget a family member's name or a friend they've known for decades.
Different Types of Dementia
There are multiple types of dementia, which involve different processes in the brain. These classifications include:
Vascular Dementia
About one in 10 people with dementia have this type, making it the second most common condition. Vascular dementia is caused by the brain not receiving enough blood to function normally. There may be blood vessel damage or blockages, which can sometimes lead to small strokes or brain bleeding.
Hydrocephalus
This type of dementia involves the buildup of spinal fluid in the brain. This fluid buildup often leads to slowed thinking, behavior changes, and loss of bladder control. Luckily, surgery may help to ease symptoms.
Dementia With Lewy Bodies
Lewy bodies are clumps of protein, called alpha-synuclein, that build up in the brain's cortex — the area that affects learning and memory. Those with this condition may have hallucinations, sleeping issues, or unbalanced movements.
Huntington's Disease
Huntington's disease impacts the central area of the brain, which helps us think, show emotion, and move. A gene problem passed down by the parents is the cause of this type of dementia. As symptoms typically start between ages 30 and 50, they usually begin with uncontrolled movements in the arms, legs, face, and upper body.
Frontotemporal Dementia
The loss of nerve cells found in the front and sides of our brain causes frontotemporal dementia. Those with this condition typically have behavior and personality changes and writing and comprehension issues.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease happens when special proteins, called prions, bend in unusual shapes. Those with the condition often have mood changes, twitchy movements, and walking issues.
Dementia can also involve multiple types of the syndrome, classified as mixed dementia. Mixed dementia may present several different symptoms, including memory loss, movement issues, behavior changes, comprehension problems, and more.
What is Alzheimer's Disease?
Alzheimer's disease is the leading form of dementia. About 60% to 80% of people with dementia have this specific type. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Alzheimer's, and it does worsen over time.
Alzheimer's disease happens when specific proteins, called plaques, and fibers, called tangles, block nerve signals by building up in the brain. This buildup destroys nerve cells, leading to memory loss and other cognitive problems. As the disease progresses, symptoms get more severe.
How Alzheimer's Impacts the Brain
Those with Alzheimer's have problems communicating and performing everyday tasks. Other common symptoms include:
- Mood changes
- Forgetting names, conversations, or past events
- Issues with concentration
- Confused thinking
- Depression symptoms
- Anger and aggression
- Problems with decision-making
- Changes in personality
Although there is no cure for Alzheimer's, certain medications may help manage symptoms and prevent the disease from progressing.
The more you can understand dementia and Alzheimer's, the more effectively you can choose care options for someone with these common conditions.
